When the warm weather arrives, it doesn't take much to start dreaming about skimming across the surface of your favorite lake or river with your friends in a ski boat. Nothing can make a water skiing trip more successful than having the right equipment. Water skis come in four major types: combination pairs, slalom, trick and jumping skis. Which type you buy depends on the type of skiing you enjoy. If you're just learning how to water ski or want to share your equipment with friends and family, combination pairs make the most sense. Combination pairs are typically longer and wider; important features when you're learning underwater starts. Slalom skis are specially designed for skiing at higher speeds and for making tight turns around obstacles. Trick skis are typically shorter and wider than other types of water skis and are made without fins on the bottom to help with their maneuverability. Finally, jump skis resemble earlier ski designs with their longer and wider profile to help with stability while being towed over jumping ramps.
What to Look for
Although all four ski designs have a lot in common with each other, each type of ski has unique characteristics that make it perform optimally for the way it was designed. For instance, combination skis are designed with wide tips and narrow tails to help new skiers learn how to get out of the water faster. The skis are flexible and easy to bend with flat bottom surfaces. The edges are rounded, or "beveled," making them easier to turn. Slalom skiers ski on only one ski, making high speed turns easier to control. While recreational slalom skis are made with wider tails and flatter bottoms, advanced models are made with narrower, tapered tails, concave or "tunnel" bottoms and highly beveled edges. Trick skis are shorter, wider versions of combination skis and come without fins, making high-speed turns, 360s and other tricks easier. With no fins, trick skis are very unstable and designed to be used by advanced skiers. Jump skis are a hybrid design that encompass all of the stability and strength of modern, combination skis with the width and length of earlier designs to insure that the skier has the widest platform available for take-offs and landings.
Common Pitfalls
When choosing a water ski that best fits your needs, be honest about how you're going to use it. Don't get talked into buying a high performance slalom ski when you're still trying to learn. Pay attention to the construction of the skis. Beginners will benefit from a ski that flexes, making it easier to start out of the water and turn. And finally, buy your skis from a reputable dealer that specializes in water skis. They'll be able to advise you on the right length of ski and the most appropriate bindings.
Member Comments